Boodles Juvenile Hurdle 2022 Racecard

The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle which takes place every year at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Open to horses aged four years only, the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is run over a distance of about 2 miles and half a furlong (2 miles and 87 yards), and there is a total of 8 hurdles to be jumped.

4:50 Tue 15 Mar BOODLES JUVENILE HURDLE Distance: 16f 87y Age: 4yo O Prize: £80,000 Going: Good Analyst's Verdict An ante-post plunge has materialised on GAELIC WARRIOR despite his never having raced in Britain or Ireland and it's easy to see why given how his form in France has worked out. Saved for this by top connections, he could be a handicap blot. Of the others, Ebasari, respected on hurdling debut form now handicapping, and Petit Tonnerre, still very much unexposed, head the opposition.

ENTRY FORM	SILKS	HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER	AGE WGT		ODDS
1		1. PETIT TONNERRE (FR) J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr. T: Jonjo O'Neill	4 11-10		BET
Won both starts in juvenile company in France last year and, having transferred to powerful connections, he landed the odds with plenty in hand in 3-runner handicap at Market Rasen. Lots more to come.
2		2. THE TIDE TURNS J: J. W. Kennedy T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	4 11-9		BET
Progressive on the AW when trained by Sir Mark Prescott and made a seamless transition to hurdling at Punchestown in January. Fourth in brace of Graded races since and more to come in handicaps.
3		3. BRAZIL (IRE) J: M. P. Walsh T: Padraig Roche, Ireland	4 11-9		BET
Just a maiden win for Aidan O'Brien on the level. Jolt of progress each hurdles start, running out a ready winner at Naas last month. Isn't obviously well-in but fair chance there's more to come.
4		4. DOCTOR CHURCHILL (IRE) J: Jordan Colin Gainford T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	4 11-5		BET
Didn't look straightforward on the level for David Evans but kept the mistakes down when won on fourth hurdles start at Limerick. Better form when second to next-time-out winner latest. More needed.
5		5. EBASARI (IRE) J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	4 11-3		BET
No great shakes on the level for Mark Halford but left that form well behind when making successful hurdling debut at Cork. Unable to build on that twice since but retains potential as a handicapper.
6		6. BRITZKA (IRE) J: Robbie Power T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	4 11-2		BET
Failed to win on the level but transferred to Gordon Elliott and made perfect start over hurdles in December. Held back by his jumping to an extent since but had a wind op and could bounce back.
7		7. BELL EX ONE (IRE) J: Harry Cobden T: Paul Nicholls	4 11-2		BET
Gained plenty of experience on the Flat and lot to like about way he's taken to hurdling, supplementing his Listowel win at Punchestown. Left R. P. Cody for £110,000. Now blinkered for powerful yard.
8		8. GAELIC WARRIOR (GER) J: P. Townend T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	4 11-1		BET
Useful form over hurdles, tongue tied when third in juveniles at Auteuil in May/June (beaten 6½ lengths by Sans Bruit, looks strong form). Saved for this by shrewd connections and looks well-in.
9		9. WHITE PEPPER (IRE) J: L. P. Dempsey T: Gavin Patrick Cromwell, Ireland	4 11-0		BET
Landed a brace of juvenile contests in Ireland but limitations rather exposed in better company last couple of outings and opening mark looks too high.
10		10. HMS SEAHORSE (IRE) J: B. J. Cooper T: Paul Nolan, Ireland	4 11-0		BET
Fairly useful maiden on the Flat and landed the odds at the third time of asking over hurdles at Fairyhouse last month, nicely clear with a next-time-out winner. Opening mark looks very fair.
11		11. PRAIRIE DANCER (IRE) J: J. J. Slevin T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland	4 10-12		BET
Yet to match Flat form over hurdles, looking a tricky ride despite finishing second in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse 3 weeks ago. Re-fitting of blinkers may help his cause now handicapping.
12		12. FEIGH (IRE) J: D. E. Mullins T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	4 10-12		BET
Didn't race on Flat but that didn't prevent her making a winning debut at Killarney in August. In top hands but limit does already look to be established having raced 4 times since without success.
13		13. IBERIQUE DU SEUIL (FR) J: Denis O'Regan T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	4 10-12		BET
Workmanlike when landing the odds in 18-runner juvenile at Cork in December. Behind White Pepper and Feigh at Fairyhouse and needs to improve a lot to defy this mark.
14		14. SAINT SEGAL (FR) J: Chester Williams T: Mrs Jane Williams	4 10-12		BET
Excellent second in Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow and flanked that with wins at Bangor and Warwick. Lacks experience of some but he's a good prospect and now tongue tied for handicap debut.
15		15. CHAMPION GREEN (IRE) J: Rachael Blackmore T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland	4 10-11		BET
Needed just 4 runs to reach a useful level on the Flat for this yard and settled better when ridden more aggressively to get off the mark at Naas in January. Scope for better as a hurdler.
16		16. SEA SESSIONS J: Jonathan Burke T: Ross O'Sullivan, Ireland	4 10-11		BET
Inferior to most of these on the level but a much better hurdler, successful at Aintree before an excellent second under a penalty at Doncaster (both against her own sex). Well-run race would suit.
17		17. MILLDAM (FR) J: Gavin Sheehan T: Jamie Snowden	4 10-11		BET
Fairly useful form over hurdles, much improved when 5¾ lengths third of 9 to Ivanohe in juvenile at Auteuil for A. Chaille-Chaille. Changed hands for €145,000 in November and usual headgear off.
18		18. DOCTOR BROWN BEAR (IRE) J: D. J. O'Keeffe T: Martin Brassil, Ireland	4 10-11		BET
Yet to be out of the frame over hurdles and ran right up to form when fourth at Leopardstown on final start for Brendan Duke in December. Tongue tie fitted starting out for shrewd yard.
19		19. TOO FRIENDLY J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton	4 10-11		BET
Flat winner for George Scott and carried that ability over to hurdles, winning juveniles at Stratford and Newcastle during the autumn. Had a wind op since respectable effort in Grade 2 company.
20		20. FOREVER WILLIAM J: Tom Cannon T: Alan King	4 10-11		BET
Fairly useful maiden on Flat who struck at first time of asking over hurdles at Newbury in December. Similar form when third twice in Graded company since and a visor now reached for.
21		21. SWINGING LONDON (IRE) J: Aidan Coleman T: Olly Murphy	4 10-10		BET
Runner-up 3 times on Flat in France and third both starts for Ellmarie Holden in December. Landed the odds in smooth fashion for new yard last month and he can leave bare form behind. Tongue tied.
22		22. SKYCUTTER (FR) J: Thomas Dowson T: Philip Kirby	4 10-8		BET
Useful on Flat and impressive when landing first 2 starts in juvenile hurdles at around 2m late last year. No chance with Porticello last time and he retains potential as a handicapper.
Betting Forecast : 11/4 2.75 GAELIC WARRIOR, 7/1 7 THE TIDE TURNS, 11/1 11 BRAZIL, 16/1 16 CHAMPION GREEN, 18/1 18 PETIT TONNERRE, 18/1 18 SAINT SEGAL, 22/1 22 HMS SEAHORSE, 22/1 22 EBASARI, 25/1 25 BRITZKA, 25/1 25 DOCTOR BROWN BEAR, 28/1 28 TOO FRIENDLY, 33/1 33 BELL EX ONE, 40/1 40 PRAIRIE DANCER, 40/1 40 SEA SESSIONS, 40/1 40 FOREVER WILLIAM, 40/1 40 IBERIQUE DU SEUIL, 50/1 50 WHITE PEPPER, 50/1 50 SWINGING LONDON, 50/1 50 MILLDAM, 66/1 66 SKYCUTTER, 66/1 66 FEIGH, 100/1 100 DOCTOR CHURCHILL, 498/1 498 DR T J ECKLEBURG, 499/1 499 TANGANYIKA

The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is a handicap for novices, and is named in the memory of successful National Hunt trainer Fred Winter, who died in 2004.

The Boodles Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle was one of several new races introduced when the Cheltenham Festival was extended to four days in 2005.

It was originally classed as a listed race, but was promoted to Grade 3 level in 2009.

Fred Winter was a four-time National Hunt Champion Jockey and eight-time National Hunt Champion Trainer, and is the only person to have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Grand National as both a jockey and trainer.

Fred Winter won the Grand National four times in total, twice as a jockey in 1957 and 1962, and twice as a trainer in 1965 and 1966.

Fred Winter’s most famous victory as a jockey came aboard Mandarin in the 1962 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil, winning the race despite illness, a broken bit and Mandarin breaking down in the last half-mile.

Often a big-field, competitive affair, it usually takes a well-handicapped sort to win the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, and in 2016 Diego du Charmil proved himself just that, landing some nice ante-post wagers in the process.

It was his first start in Britain having had three runs in his native France beforehand, and after traveling best throughout, he only just got home in front of his stablemate Romain de Senam .

In fact, he was rather lucky to win, with the runner-up and the third both making costly mistakes from two out.

That race was one of the stronger renewals of the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, with Diego du Charmil having won a Grade 1 over fences since, and the third home Coo Star Sivola winning the Close Brothers Handicap Chase at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.

The most successful Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle trainer is Paul Nicholls, who has won the race three times, with: Sanctuaire (2010), Qualando (2015) and Diego du Charmil (2016). The 2019 renewal was won in easy fashion by the Joseph O’Brien-trained Band of Outlaws, who was completing a hat-trick of wins.

Unlike many other Cheltenham Festival races, there has been no jockey who has won the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle more than once, which in a way pays testament to the competitiveness of the race.

Boodles Juvenile Hurdle 2022 FAQs

What is the distance of the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle?

2 miles and 87 yards

How many obstacles are jumped in the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle?

8

What day of the festival is the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle?

Day 2

What time is the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle?

16:50

What weights are carried for the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle?

Top weight – 11st 10lbs down to the bottom weight – 10st

What is the purse for the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle?

£80,000 (2019)

Who is the leading jockey in the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle?

No jockey has won the race more than once

Who is the leading trainer in the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle?

Paul Nicholls

Who won the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle?

You can check out our Boodles Juvenile Hurdle results page here to see a list of previous winners.

Where can I compare the odds for the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle?

Click the link to visit our Boodles Juvenile Hurdle Odds Comparison page.